Martin Ukuleles for Charles H. Ditson & Co.
In February of 1916, the Charles Ditson Store in New York, one of Martin's largest customers, ordered the first Dreadnaught shaped guitars.
In November of 1916, Harry Hunt, the Small Goods Department Manager at Ditson, began to order ukuleles in all the various models Martin offered with a unique Dreadnaught shape as well.
1916 Martin Ditson Model 3 Mahogany Dreadnaught Ukulele
The Model 3 is one of Martin's most beautiful model ukes, with inlays and multiple stripes on the fretboard, and a design in Ivoroid on the lower face. The earliest ukuleles had simple ebony tuning pegs and an Ivoroid design on the headstock.
1916 Martin Ditson Model 2 Mahogany Dreadnaught Ukulele
1916 Martin Ditson Model 1 Mahogany Dreadnaught Ukulele
1916 Martin Ditson Model 1 Mahogany Ukulele
In 1916, Ditson continued to order ukuleles from Martin in the traditional Martin style in addition to the new Ditson Dreadnaught shape.
1916 Martin Ditson Model 1 Mahogany Taropatch
Ditson also ordered eight string Taropatches from Martin in the new Ditson Dreadnaught shape.
The first Martin ukuleles were shipped in late 1915.
|
DATE |
MODEL |
SERIAL # |
DEALER |
|
10/28/1915 |
Ukulele 1 |
1 |
Geo. Stannard, Trenton, NJ |
|
10/28/1915 |
|
3 |
Geo. Stannard, Trenton, NJ |
|
11/13/1915 |
|
4 |
Geo c. Krick, Philadelphia, PA |
|
11/13/1915 |
|
5 |
Wm. J. Smith, New York |
|
11/17/1915 |
|
6 |
J.A. Handley, Lowell, MA |
|
11/18/1915 |
|
7 |
J.A. Handley, Lowell, MA |
|
11/18/1915 |
|
8 |
Charles Ditson Co., New York, NY |
|
11/18/1915 |
|
9 |
Charles Ditson Co., New York, NY |
|
12/7/1915 |
|
11 |
Charles Ditson Co., New York, NY |
|
12/7/1915 |
|
13 |
Charles Ditson Co., New York, NY |
|
12/7/1915 |
|
15 |
Charles Ditson Co., New York, NY |
|
12/23/1915 |
|
14 |
John Wanamaker, Philadelphia, PA |
|
1/10/1916 |
|
2 |
Princeton Univ. Store, Princeton, NJ |
|
1/10/1916 |
|
10 |
Princeton Univ. Store, Princeton, NJ |
|
1/15/1916 |
|
12 |
J.A. Handley, Lowell, MA |
The first Hawaiian guitars were shipped not to the West Coast or Hawaii, but to the Charles Ditson Store in New York, on Feb 12, 1916
The first Hawaiian koa guitars were shipped to Southern California Music on July 10, 1916
The first Hawaiin ukules were shipped not to the West Coast or Hawaii, but to East Coast dealers Geo. Stannard in Trenton, NJ. on October 28, 1915, three and a half months before the Hawaiian Ditson guitars.
...and then Geo. Krick in Philadelphia, and Wm. Smith in New York City, on November 13, 1915.
Ukuleles were shipped to the Charles Ditson Store in New York, on December 7, 1915.
Walsh and King believe this to be the first shipment of Ditson's "own model" ukuleles in the "Dreadnaught" shape, shipped on November16, 1916, nine months after the "Dreadnaught" shaped guitars.
The first koa ukuleles were shipped to the Southern California Music Stores on October 13, 1917, nearly two years later.
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